Countries: Honduras, China, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) Source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees Please refer to the attached file. Context May was marked by continued violence, extortion, insecurity and forced displacement risks across Honduras, alongside legal and institutional developments linked to the national security response. Reports during the month highlighted the continued reconfiguration of criminal structures linked to extortion, drug trafficking and kidnapping in several parts of the country. These dynamics continued to affect communities through fear, territorial control and restrictions on mobility. Representatives of the transport sector reported that extortion and generalized crime continued to affect transport workers and daily operations, with the sector reportedly paying an estimated USD 1.8 million per month. Violence continued to affect communities and public security institutions. Separate armed attacks left at least 25 people dead in less than four hours, including a mass killing of 20 people in Trujillo, Colón, and the killing of five anti-gang police officers during an operation in Omoa, Cortés. By late May, at least 12 mass killings and 65 victims had been recorded in 2026, while the National Commissioner for Human Rights reported 118 mass killings over the past 42 months. The National Commissioner for Human Rights reported that its Internal Forced Displacement Unit assisted 23,458 internally displaced people or people at risk of displacement between 2016 and 2024. Between 2022 and 2024, the Unit registered 4,320 complaints affecting more than 11,400 people, with threats, extortion and the killing of relatives accounting for most cases. Civil society actors also warned that forced displacement linked to violence generates economic, psychosocial and social impacts that can deepen vulnerability and affect community cohesion. Women's organizations reported that more than 100 women had been killed violently since the beginning of 2026, while concerns persisted over impunity and access to justice. LGBTIQ+ organizations reported 20 violent deaths during the first five months of the year and continued to call for improved protection and investigations. Child protection actors also warned of continued risks affecting children and adolescents, including poverty, education exclusion, sexual violence and exposure to forced recruitment. Reforms approved by the National Congress entered into force, increasing penalties prison sentences for members of drug cartels and gangs under the amended legal framework. Press organizations raised concerns that changes to provisions on disclosure of confidential information could affect investigative journalism on corruption and criminal structures. Civil society organizations also expressed concern over the definition of terrorism included in the reforms. Climate-related risks added pressure to communities already affected by violence and limited livelihood opportunities. Climate experts warned that drought and high temperatures could place up to 2.2 million people at risk of food insecurity by the end of 2026. National and international actors announced coordinated interventions in municipalities of the Dry Corridor to address climate-related risks and food insecurity.
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